Dr. Fauci and Economic Adviser Get Into ‘Confrontation’ Over Coronavirus Treatment; State Implements Hydroxychloroquine Clinical Trial
By Washington Examiner. A White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting reportedly devolved into a “confrontation” over the potential use of anti-malarial drugs to treat the coronavirus.
“Drama erupted” between economic adviser Peter Navarro and the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci during a task force meeting in the Situation Room on Saturday, according to a Sunday report from Axios.
The incident began when Commissioner of Food and Drugs Stephen Hahn started discussing hydroxychloroquine as a possible “game-changer” in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. Navarro then began passing out folders of data on the drug. . .
Fauci, however, pushed back against the claim, saying the evidence of the drug’s effectiveness in treating the coronavirus was just anecdotal and that more data is needed. According to another source, Navarro pointed to the folders and said to Fauci, “That’s science, not anecdote.”
Despite Fauci’s public praise of President Trump’s China travel ban, the trade official rose his voice and told Fauci, “You were the one who early on objected to the travel restrictions with China.” (Read more from “Dr. Fauci and Economic Adviser Get Into ‘Confrontation’ Over Coronavirus Treatment” HERE)
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South Dakota Implements Statewide Hydroxychloroquine Clinical Trial for Potential Coronavirus Treatment
By Fox News. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Monday announced a statewide clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine for the possible treatment of COVID-19, making her state the first in the country to institute a program exploring the potential effectiveness of the drug in treating and preventing coronavirus.
“From Day One, I’ve said we’re going to let the science, facts and data drive our decision-making in South Dakota,” Noem said in a statement provided to Fox News.
Noem, a Republican, announced the “comprehensive” clinical trial Monday after communicating with White House officials in the last week to “let them know that South Dakota’s medical community was ready to step up and lead the way on research efforts.”
“I made direct requests to President Trump and Vice President Pence to supply us with enough hydroxychloroquine so that it could be made available for every hospitalized person the state may have, as well as those for health care workers on the frontlines and those in the most vulnerable populations,” Noem said.
The governor said South Dakota has received doses of hydroxychloroquine to begin the trial. (Read more from “South Dakota Implements Statewide Hydroxychloroquine Clinical Trial for Potential Coronavirus Treatment” HERE)
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